The designation is part of a nationwide effort to raise awareness of the destructive nature of the tree pests, and to spread the word about the “three P’s of EAB” — Prepare, Protect, and Plant.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture urges residents and cities to prepare by knowing the signs and symptoms of infestations, and by being ready to act if their ash trees become infested. Options include removal or treatment.

The department also advises Minnesotans to protect uninfested areas by not transporting firewood because the beetles can hitchhike from one location to another via firewood. Precautionary insecticide treatments are also an option.

Finally, the department advises property owners to plant a variety of native trees.